How are Points Scored in Football? (with pictures) Law How are Points Scored in Football? Originally Written By: Leo J Revised By: A. Joseph Last Modified Date: 18 December 2016 Copyright Protected: Adorable animal families that will make you "aww" There are three main ways for a team to score points in American football: by carrying the ball across the opponent's goal line, by possessing the ball or tackling an opposing ballcarrier in the opponent's end zone or by kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts. It also is possible for a team to score points under certain circumstances when the opponent commits a penalty in its own end zone or fumbles the ball out of bounds in its own end zone. Each way of scoring has a name and is worth a specific number of points. A touchdown is worth six points, a field goal is worth three points, a safety usually is worth two points, and a try is worth either one or two points. Touchdowns A touchdown is scored when a player has possession of the football and it crosses the opposing team's goal line or when a player gains possession of the ball in the opponent's end zone.

When the ball is possessed in the field of play, any part of the ball touching an imaginary plane over the goal line results in a touchdown. For example, a player who is being tackled near the goal line can reach out with the ball and score a touchdown if it crosses the goal line before the player is down. When a player who is already in the end zone gains possession of the ball, such as catching a pass or recovering a fumble, it is a touchdown as long as the player was legally in bounds when he gained possession of the ball. Tries After a touchdown, the scoring team is given one play to score again from near the goal line. This is called a try and is worth one or two points, depending on how the team scores. At most levels of football, kicking the ball through the goalposts on a try— called an extra-point kick or point-after-touchdown (PAT) — is worth one point, and running or passing the ball into the end zone is worth two points and usually is called a two-point conversion. In some leagues, such as those for youth players, the points awarded for tries are switched, because kicking the ball through the goalposts is considered to be a more difficult task for young players.

Other leagues might award one point for a run and two for a pass. At many levels, it also is possible for the defensive team to score a two-point conversion by gaining possession of the ball on a try attempt and carrying the ball into the opponent's end zone. Field Goals If the team that has the ball — the offense — does not score a touchdown, it might be able to kick a field goal. This is the same as an extra-point kick but usually is from a greater distance. A team usually will attempt a field goals only after exhausting its chances to score a touchdown while still in possession of the ball. One exception is when the team is trailing by three points or less near the end of the game. For example, in the final minute of a game that is tied, the offensive team might not try to score a touchdown if it already is close enough to attempt a relatively easy field goal. Safeties A safety is the least common scoring play in football, and it usually is scored by the team that does not have possession of the ball — the defense.

It occurs when an offensive player who has the ball is tackled or goes out of bounds in the offense's own end zone, when a ball that was fumbled or batted by a team goes out of bounds in its own end zone or when the offensive team commits a penalty in its own end zone. It is not a safety, however, if a player gains possession of the football in his team's own end zone and is tackled or goes out of bounds before advancing out of the end zone. One-Point Safeties Another, little-known way of scoring can occur only on a try attempt and is known as a one-point safety. This happens when the play normally would result in a safety against the defense. For example, if the team that is attempting the try fumbles the ball and a defensive player bats the ball through the defense's end zone and out of bounds, the offensive team would be awarded a one-point safety. Another example would be a defensive player intercepting a pass on a two-point conversion attempt, then running into his own end zone and being tackled. One-point safeties are extremely rare, and some leagues do not even allow them.

Ad They’re Only 2 Points, but Safeties Can Be Game Changers - The New York Times The New York Times Pro Football |All That Work for 2 Points Search Continue reading the main story Photo The Steelers tackled Minnesota's Fran Tarkenton in the end zone after he recovered his own fumble in Super Bowl IX, one of six safeties in Super Bowl history. Credit Charlie Kelly/Associated Press When Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen tackled Denver’s Willis McGahee in the end zone last Sunday, he rose to his feet and clapped his hands together over his head, the instantly recognizable signal for a safety. The moment brought a roar from the Metrodome crowd, a show of emotion for a team that had just scored in the most unlikely of ways. Safeties are not rare — Allen’s tackle resulted in the 14th safety in the N.F.L. this season, making it slightly less common than a punt return for a touchdown — but they are almost always unexpected, occurring because of an unpredictable confluence of luck, skill and sometimes poor decision-making. The safety is, in fact, the one scoring play in football in which points are as much a punishment for a job done poorly as a reward for a job well done.

To emphasize the point, teams are penalized twice for one misstep: they concede 2 points, then must kick from their 20-yard line. “That’s the ultimate,” said Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty, who has never had a safety. “Get a sack and get points. What’s better?” Continue reading the main story While safeties produce only 2 points, they can have dramatic consequences. Consider the 1945 N.F.L. championship game between the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Rams. In the first quarter, Redskins quarterback Sammy Baugh threw a pass from his end zone that hit the goal post, which at the time was situated on the goal line, and landed in the end zone. Because it was an incomplete forward pass that landed behind the goal line, the play was ruled a safety. The Rams went on to win, 15-14. Advertisement Continue reading the main story The next year, the Redskins’ owner, George Marshall, pushed to have the rule changed so that such passes were simply incomplete. That particular way to get a safety may now be obsolete, but numerous possibilities still exist.

A team can block a punt that rolls out of bounds from the end zone, or a defense can tackle a running back or sack a quarterback in the end zone, as the Jets’ Muhammad Wilkerson did in September against Jacksonville. “That was my first sack in the N.F.L., so it definitely wasn’t a bad way to get it,” Wilkerson said. On occasion, offenses deliberately take a safety to take time off the clock or avoid having to punt from deep in their end zone and give the opponent good field position. The Patriots did this in 2003 when, from their 1-yard line, they intentionally snapped the ball out of the end zone. Though the Patriots gave up 2 points, increasing Denver’s lead to 26-23 with less than three minutes left, the ensuing punt allowed them to pin the Broncos deep in their territory, a move that contributed to New England’s comeback victory . Then there is perhaps the most ignominious safety of all, in which Minnesota defensive end Jim Marshall recovered a fumble against San Francisco in 1964, ran 66 yards in the wrong direction and upon reaching his own end zone flung the ball out of bounds in a misguided bit of celebration.

In an age when quarterbacks have plays sent to them via radios in their helmets and adjust to menacing defenses in seconds, a safety can seem like a throwback to the days when single-digit scores were the norm and defensive linemen and linebackers were more revered than receivers and running backs. “When it’s third-and-10 on the 1, you do find every last shred of energy, the golden move you’ve been saving, when you have a chance to get a safety,” said Doug English, a former Detroit Lions lineman. “That’s our big scoring opportunity. Suddenly, we’re equal to the running backs.” English had four career safeties. He shares the N.F.L. record with the former Raiders and Colts star Ted Hendricks. Photo The Jets scored a safety against the Patriots this season when Tom Brady was called for intentional grounding in the end zone. Credit Julio Cortez/Associated Press “It’s not much of a record, but it’s a record,” English said. “It’s such an obscure record and such a little record; it’s just four.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story The origins of the safety date to collegiate football.

In rule books from the 1880s, the play is called a “safety touch-down.” According to a book from 1882, a team that scores four or more safeties wins the game, assuming there are no other scoring plays. “It implies that there were a lot of them in those days,” said Jon Kendle, a researcher at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Privacy Policy He added that there was nothing in the rule books to suggest that safeties were ever not worth 2 points or to explain the origins of the kick after the score. Technically, teams can drop-kick, punt or place-kick the ball from their 20-yard line. Nearly every team punts. Despite enormous changes in offenses and defenses, the advent of specialized players and any number of rule changes, including one this season that moved kickoffs to the 35-yard line from the 30, safeties have occurred at fairly consistent rates over the years. Since 1932, when the N.F.L.

started keeping records of the play, there has been a safety every 14.31 games, or about once a week given the league’s current schedule. This season the Jets, the St. Louis Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers have each recorded two. Both of the Rams’ safeties were recorded in the same quarter and were their only points scored, making it the first time a team had precisely 4 points in a quarter. (Other teams have had two safeties in one quarter, but scored other points as well.) Certainly, safeties were more common in the league’s early years, when the game was more defense-minded. Five games have ended 2-0, the last in 1938 when the Chicago Bears shut out the Green Bay Packers. In 1927 the Cleveland Bulldogs became the first team to notch four safeties in a season, in 13 games. Four teams have matched that feat, the last being the Tennessee Titans in 1999, but those teams played more games.

Fred Dryer, a defensive end with the Los Angeles Rams, remains the only player to record two safeties in one game; he tackled two different quarterbacks in their end zone during the fourth quarter against the Packers in 1973. They were Dryer’s only safeties in a 13-year career. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Just as oddly, safeties occurred most frequently in 1932, when there was an average of one every six games, and least frequently in 1966, when there was just one every 35 games. The record for most safeties in a season was set in 1988, when there were 26 in a 224-game season, or one every 8.62 games. Only once since 1932 have three safeties been scored in a game. Those came in 1984 , when the Rams recorded them against the Giants. All three, it turned out, came in the third quarter when the Rams, who won, 33-12, blocked two punts out of the end zone and sacked Giants quarterback Phil Simms in his end zone.

Twice, safeties have determined regular-season overtime games, and they have occurred in six Super Bowls. Players, coaches and fans have their favorites. Gil Brandt, who ran player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys for three decades, recalled a game in 1962 when the Cowboys thought they had scored on a 99-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter against the Steelers. But offensive lineman Andy Cvercko was called for holding in the end zone, and a safety was awarded. The Cowboys ultimately lost, 30-28. “They said it was the first time that play had been called,” Brandt said. “Coach Landry had no idea what was going on.” Sam Borden and Ben Shpigel contributed reporting. A version of this article appears in print on December 9, 2011, on Page B14 of the New York edition with the headline: All That Work For 2 Points. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe Moving the Football and Finding the End Zone - How American Football Works | HowStuffWorks Moving the Football and Finding the End Zone Prev Next A football game begins with a coin toss to decide which team will receive the opening kickoff.

From the opening kickoff, the two teams battle to take possession of the ball. Possession means that a team's offensive unit has the ball. A team can take possession of the ball in several ways: Receiving a kickoff - A team receives a kickoff at the beginning of each half and after the other team scores. Turnover - A team recovers a ball dropped by the other team (fumble) or picks off a ball thrown by the other team's quarterback (interception). Safety - A player is tackled in his own end zone, meaning the end zone his team is defending, so the other team gets the ball though a free kick. Punt - The defensive team stops the offensive team from getting 10 yards in three downs, and the offensive team free-kicks, or punts, the ball to the other team on third down. Turnover on downs - The offensive team fails to advance the ball 10 yards in four downs and has to surrender the ball to the other team. For those new to the sport, the last two scenarios on this list may not make sense. One of the most confusing concepts of American-style football is the down-and-distance system.

Every time a team takes possession of the ball, it is given a set of four downs, or attempts, to move the ball 10 yards. If the team can move the ball 10 yards or more within four downs, the team gets another set of four downs to go another 10 yards, and so on. For instance, if a team advances 3 yards on first down, the next play is second down with 7 yards to go (second and 7); if the team then advances 5 yards on second down, the next play is third and 2; if the team then advances 2 or more yards on third down, the next play is back to first and 10, with a whole new set of four downs during which to advance the ball. After each play, the officials determine how many yards a team has advanced or lost (a team can lose yards if the ball holder is tackled behind the line of scrimmage -- this line is discussed in a moment). The officials then place the ball at the point where the team has ended up. This point determines the line of scrimmage, which is an imaginary line that runs across the field and is the starting point for the offensive team on each play.

On the sideline, a team of officials handles a 10-yard-long chain, which designates that 10-yard mark a team must reach to get a first down. On close plays, this chain is sometimes brought onto the field to measure the distance from the ball to the 10-yard mark. The nose of the ball must reach the bar connected to the end of the chain for a team to be awarded a first down. If a team fails to gain 10 yards after three downs, it may choose to punt the ball to the other team. If it doesn't punt and chooses to use its fourth down, or "go for it," it must reach the 10-yard mark or it surrenders the ball. A team often chooses to punt the ball in order to back the opposing team up so that it has to cover a greater distance to score. The team receiving the punt can return it, meaning it can catch and run it back down the field. The kicking team is hoping to kick the ball down the field and tackle the receiving team's kick returner before he comes back down the field.

All of this pushing and shoving to move a cowhide-covered ball has one purpose: move the ball over the opponent's goal line to score a touchdown. Photo courtesy The Philadelphia Eagles Running the ball The opponent's goal line is the one a team is advancing toward. Once any part of the ball reaches the edge of the goal line, it is considered in the end zone, and a touchdown has been scored. You will often hear commentators say that a ball breaks the plane of the end zone, which means the ball has crossed over the goal line. A touchdown is just one way of scoring points in football. After scoring a touchdown, a team can kick a field goal for an extra point or attempt to run or pass the ball into the end zone for a two-point conversion. The team has only one chance at the two-point conversion. Here is a complete look at ways points are scored and how many points are awarded for each: Method Quirky Research: One-point safety Quirky Research RSS Feed E-Mail Question? Comment? Find a broken link? Have a random topic that hasn't been researched? Find one of my many typos? Does a table look weird in your browser?

E-mail me at quirkyresearch@gmail.com Thursday, January 03, 2013 One-point safety (Updated with Oregon's Fiesta Bowl and Hamline's 2000 one-point safeties.) Before the 1988 season, the NCAA made a rule change, awarding college football teams two points for returning a failed extra point or two-point conversion. This happens occasionally (9 times in I-A football in 2005). This rule change brought in play a truly obscure rule: the one-point safety. If a defensive player retreats into his own end zone following an interception, fumble, or blocked kick on a conversion attempt and is tackled there, the tackling team is awarded 1 point. (Similarly, if the converting team retreats into its own end zone and is tackled there, the defense is awarded 1 point, but that end zone is 97 yards away, so this is extremely unlikely.) This rule did exist before 1988, but the defense had no incentive to return a failed conversation, so it had no effect. NCAA Rule 8-1-1: The point value of scoring plays shall be ... Successful Try: ... Safety --- 1 Point.

Approved Ruling 8-3-2-I: On a try attempt, B2 adds new impetus to a Team A fumble that is recovered in the Team B end zone by Team B. RULING: Safety, award Team A one point.... Approved Ruling 8-3-2-II: On a try attempt, B2 kicks a Team A fumble into the Team B end zone where Team B recovers while grounded. RULING: Safety, one point for Team A, or Team A may accept the penalty for illegally kicking the ball ... and repeat the down. Approved Ruling 8-3-2-IX: On a one-point try attempt, Team A’s kick is blocked and B75 recovers at the two-yard line. As B75 attempts to advance, he fumbles and the ball rolls into the end zone, where B61 recovers and is downed. RULING: Safety. Award Team A one point.... The NFL also allows for the one-point safety, but only for the offense.

Because play ends on an NFL conversion as soon as the defense gains possession, the only way this really could happen is if the defense batted the ball from the field of play into its own end zone. NFL Rule 11-3-2-d: If there is no kick, and the Try results in what would ordinarily be a safety against the defense, one point is awarded to the offensive team. Approved Ruling 11.4: During a Try, placekick holder A1 fumbles. B1 kicks, bats, or muffs the loose ball (new impetus) on his 2 and it goes out of bounds behind the goal line. Ruling: Ordinarily a safety (11-5-1). Award one point. Known one-point safeties: 1. Westminster vs. West Liberty State (NAIA Division II), September 7, 1996. Westminster holder Kevin Freeman fumbled the snap. Abandoning the kick, he rolled to his right, but threw an interception, which Liberty caught on the 1-yard line. The interceptor was immediately tackled, causing a fumble that Liberty recovered in its own end zone. 2. Moorpark College vs.

Bakersfield (Junior College), September 21, 1996. Moorpark kicker Tim Wolleck's extra point was blocked and recovered by a Bakerfield defender at the 3. The defender retreated into his own end zone, and was tackled there. 3. Hamline (MN) vs. St. Thomas (MN) (Division III), November 11, 2000. Trailing 13-6 in the 2nd quarter, Hamline's extra point was blocked. St. Thomas recovered the ball at its own 2, then lateraled back into the end zone where the player was tackled. (Thanks to commenter AHS Class of 1976 Reunion for the tip .) 4. Texas vs. Texas A&M, November 26, 2004. Texas had just scored a touchdown off a blocked punt to cut Texas A&M's lead to 13-12 in the 3rd quarter. The snap on the extra point was low and was bobbled by backup holder Matt Nordgren, causing Dusty Mangum's kick to be blocked.

A Texas A&M player picked the ball up but was immediately tackled and fumbled the ball into the end zone, where it was recovered by another Texas A&M player. 5. Oregon vs. Kansas State (Fiesta Bowl), January 3, 2013. Up 31-10 in the 3rd quarter, Oregon's extra point was blocked and picked up by Kansas State on its own 2-yard-line. The Kansas State player then retreated into his own end zone where he was tackled. NFL Rules Digest: Safety Digest of Rules Main Safety The important factor in a safety is impetus. Two points are scored for the opposing team when the ball is dead on or behind a team�s own goal line if the impetus came from a player on that team. Examples of Safety: (a) Blocked punt goes out of kicking team�s end zone. Impetus was provided by punting team. The block only changes direction of ball, not impetus. (b) Ball carrier retreats from field of play into his own end zone and is downed. Ball carrier provides impetus. (c) Offensive team commits a foul and spot of enforcement is behind its own goal line.

(d) Player on receiving team muffs punt and, trying to get ball, forces or illegally kicks (creating new impetus) it into end zone where it goes out of the end zone or is recovered by a member of the receiving team in the end zone. Examples of Non-Safety: (a) Player intercepts a pass with both feet inbounds in the field of play and his momentum carries him into his own end zone. Ball is put in play at spot of interception. (b) Player intercepts a pass in his own end zone and is downed in the end zone, even after recovering in the end zone. Impetus came from passing team, not from defense. (Touchback) (c) Player passes from behind his own goal line. Opponent bats down ball in end zone. (Incomplete pass) Information Various Methods of Scoring in Football NFL Expert By James Alder • The biggest goal for an offense every time they take possession of the ball is to score a touchdown. To score a touchdown, a player must carry the ball across the opposition's goal line, or catch a pass in the end zone. Once the ball crosses the plane of the goal line while it is in a player's possession, it is scored a touchdown.

A touchdown is worth six points. • The team scoring a touchdown is given the bonus of trying to add one or two more points. These are called extra point conversion attempts. • If a team elects to go for two extra points , they will line up at the two-yard line and make one attempt at either running or passing the ball into the end zone. If they make it, they are awarded two points. If they don't, they get no extra points. • They can also elect to go for just one extra point by kicking the ball through the goal posts while snapping it from the two-yard line. • Another way for a team to score is by kicking a field goal. When a team finds themselves in a fourth-down situation, many times they will attempt to kick a field goal if they feel they are close enough for their kicker to kick the football between the upright bars of the goal post in the opponent's end zone . A field goal is worth three points. • A team can also pick up two points by tackling an opponent possessing the ball in his own end zone. This is called a safety! •Perhaps the rarest way to score in football is on the little-used fair-catch kick.

If a team fair catches a punt from the other team, they have the option of attempting a field goal on a free kick on the very next play from the spot the punt is fielded. The ball is kicked off the ground with the aid of a holder, and is worth three points just like a regular field goal. The down is not timed. To summarize: Fantasy Football Scoring & Points System Guide Fantasy Football Scoring & Points System Guide Updated on 4/4/2015 by Brad Perniciaro One of the major decisions all commissioners must contemplate when configuring their fantasy leagues is which of the three primary fantasy football scoring systems to implement. This is an important decision as the chosen scoring system will dictate how owners create their fantasy football cheat sheets and how players accumulate points throughout the season. There are three primary fantasy football scoring systems in use today and most leagues implement some variance of these systems: Individual Defensive Player ( IDP ) The Standard Scoring System is the best system for new fantasy leagues or existing fantasy leagues which want to keep things simple. Points Per Reception enhances standard scoring by introducing another statistical category to increase overall scoring.

Finally, Individual Defensive Player is a complement to either Standard Scoring or PPR and is best-suited for hard-core owners who invest considerable time in their leagues. Choosing a Best Scoring System Scoring systems are generally chosen based on the experience-level and personality of the league owners. When considering which system to implement, consider the following questions: Is this your league's first year? Is your league comprised mostly of novices or fantasy veterans? How much of time do you expect your owners to commit to the league? Are your owners the types who would enjoy complex scoring systems with high-scoring games, or would they prefer a simple and straight-forward system? The answers to these questions will provide the guidance necessary to choose between these scoring systems.

Standard Fantasy Football Scoring System Click to image view full size Add this image to your site <a href=""> <img src="" alt="The Standard Fantasy Football Scoring System Point Chart - Infographic" title="The Standard Fantasy Football Scoring System Point Chart - Infographic" width="400" height="1688" /></a> <br/> <a href="">Cheat Sheet War Room</a> The standard fantasy football scoring system comprises a well-respected baseline of statistic/point-value pairs for which players accumulate points. The points system which forms this framework is designed to promote balance across the various fantasy positions. The standard scoring system is the typical model chosen by first time fantasy football commissioners because it is a very basic points system which is intuitive for fantasy notices. The points system defined in the standard scoring system was formulated with the goal of ensuring that each fantasy position has roughly the same value respective to the other positions for similar on-field production. Thus, it aims to calibrate the weight of each fantasy statistic so that each fantasy position has comparable value to your team. Next, we'll outline the basic point guidelines in standard fantasy football scoring for all offensive and defensive fantasy positions.

Offensive Scoring The offensive fantasy football scoring rules are well-established, especially when you compare them to their Defense/ ST counterparts. Basic Point Values Touchdown: 6 points In the standard fantasy football scoring system, touchdowns are universally worth 6 points, just like in the NFL . It does not matter if the touchdown was scored by a quarterback, receiver, running back, or even a kicker; all touchdowns are worth 6 points. Rushing Yards: 1 point per 10 yards Each rushing yard is worth .1 point (if your league awards fractional points, which it should), or 1 point for every 10 yards. Receiving Yards: 1 point per 10 yards Similar to rushing yards, each receiving yard in fantasy football is worth .1 point, or 1 point for every 10 yards. Passing Yards: 1 point per 25 yards Because passing yards are much easier to come by than rushing or receiving yards, they are not worth quite as much. Passing yards in the standard scoring system are worth .04 point per yard, or 1 point for every 25 yards.

Achieving Balanced Scoring The four statistic/point-value pairs listed above form the basis of the standard fantasy football scoring system. To get an idea of how this point system aims to be balanced, imagine that during a football game the following statistics were compiled for the five offensive fantasy positions: Quarterback: 250 yards passing, 1 touchdown Running Back: 40 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns Wide Receiver: 100 yards receiving, 1 touchdown Tight End: 100 yards receiving, 1 touchdown Kicker: 2 40-yard FGs, 1 50 yard FG, & 3 extra points If you were to ask several different people which of these players had the best game, you'd probably hear several different answers. This is because each player had roughly the same level of production considering the position that they play. Likewise, in terms of fantasy point output, each of these players would have compiled the exact same fantasy point total: 16 points. As mentioned earlier, the idea behind the standard scoring system is to weigh statistic/point-values such that players with the same relative output are awarded approximately the same fantasy points, regardless of their position.

Additional Offensive Scoring Categories While the aforementioned statistic/point-value pairs form the basis of the standard scoring system, the following statistics must also be factored into your scoring rules. However, they may vary slightly from league to league. Passing Interceptions: -2 Points For the average NFL quarterback, the ratio of TDs to INTs is generally about 3-1. For instance, in 2012 Joe Flacco had 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, Russell Wilson had 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, and Ben Roethlisberger had 26 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. This 3-1 ratio forms the basis for an interception's negative point value in fantasy football. It will take 3 interceptions to negate a 1 touchdown, so each interception will subtract 2 points from your fantasy quarterback's point total. Offensive Fumbles: -2 Points The negative point value attributed to a lost fumble is most commonly -2 points, although this can take different forms. For example, some fantasy football platforms allow you to assign point values to both fumbles lost AND fumbles that are not lost.

Under this configuration it is not uncommon to see commissioners associate -1 point with a fumble that is recovered by the offense and -2 points with a fumble that is turned over to the defense. Field Goals: 3+ Points Field goal point values generally start at 3 points and increase in value as the distance (and thus the difficulty) of the field goal increases. There are no standard guidelines governing how a field goal's point value should be increased, but a common approach is to award an additional point (4 points total) for any kick between 40 and 50 yards, another point (5 points total) for a kick between 51 yards and 59 yards, and finally 6 points for any field goal 60 yards are longer. If your league hosting service allows it, a further refinement of field goal point configuration is to award fractional points based on field goal distance. Configuring points in this manner would be similar to how partial points are awarded for yardage to the quarterback, running back, and wide receiver positions. Whether this option is available to you will depend on your league hosting service.

Using the fractional approach, you could award 3 fantasy points for every field goal up to 39 yards, 4 fantasy points for a field goal of 40 yards, then award an additional .1 fantasy point per yard for field goals 40 yards or greater. For instance, a 41 yard field goal would be worth 4.1 points, a 42 yard field goal would be worth 4.2 points, and so on. The fractional approach to scoring field goals adds an element of granularity and fairness that could be the difference in the outcome of a game or two during your fantasy season. Defensive/Special Teams Scoring The following statistics are factored into the scoring rules for the Defense/Special Teams (DST) fantasy football position. Under the standard scoring configuration, the special teams and defense of each team are combined to form one fantasy position, DST . Of all the fantasy football positions, the statistic/point-value assigned to the Defense/ST position are the most varied. Every fantasy football league puts their own personal touch on these settings so any small deviation from the following point values is acceptable.

Blocked Kick: 2 points Blocking any type of kick, whether it be an extra point, field goal, or even a punt is generally worth two points. Safety: 2 points Just like in the real world, a safety is worth 2 points to your DST position. Forced Fumble: 1 points Fantasy leagues vary, but forcing a fumble is generally worth 1 point. Some leagues only award points (2) for a forced fumble that is actually recovered by the defense. However, I personally like to split these points across two categories: forced fumble and fumble recovery. Some league hosts provide this option while others do not. Fumble Recovery: 1 point A fumble recovery is worth 1 point or, as previously mentioned, may be worth 2 points if no points are awarded for forced fumble by itself. Interception: 2 points Interceptions are almost universally worth 2 fantasy points. These points counter the -2 fantasy points which are taken from the fantasy quarterback who threw the interception. Sack: 1 point Sacks are worth 1 fantasy point. Points Allowed: In recent years fantasy defense production has gone through the roof, especially since it is packaged with special teams.

Fantasy points awarded for ‘Points Allowed’ play a large part in this position's overall point total. Variations of this setting are common so remember these groupings are only a guideline: 0 Points Allowed (Shutout): 10 points 1 - 6 PA : 8 points 7 - 13 PA: 6 points 14 - 20 PA: 2 points 21 - 27PA: 1 points The Best Conditions in Which to Implement Standard Scoring The standard fantasy football scoring system works especially well in the following scenarios. New leagues which are just starting out and want to use a proven configuration Leagues comprised of passive fantasy novices who don't invest a lot of time and would benefit from a basic system Any league which wants to keep things simple and straight-forward The standard scoring system hasn't changed much throughout the years and is a solid, balanced point configuration . You simply can't go wrong when utilizing standard scoring for your leagues. Points Per Reception (PPR) Scoring System As fantasy football increased in popularity over the years, some fantasy veterans began to get bored with the standard scoring system.

It wasn't that the standard system was flawed, it was simply that owners wanted their leagues to incorporate more scoring and strategy. If more points on the scoreboard makes the NFL more exciting, the same should hold true for fantasy football, right? It was out of this desire for more scoring that the Points Per Reception system was born. The PPR system is identical to standard scoring with one important exception: players receive additional points for every reception (generally 1 point or a half point, varying by league). This configuration directly affects only a few fantasy positions, namely wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs. While this minor adjustment to scoring may seem only slightly different than standard scoring leagues, the difference is great enough that it must be strongly considered as you configure your player rankings. A player's ranking under the PPR scoring system could vary by as much as 10 positions when compared to standard leagues .

Best Leagues for using PPR Scoring The following are examples of leagues which may benefit from implementing Points Per Reception scoring: Leagues which have used the standard scoring system and want to add more scoring while preserving the balance that the standard scoring configuration provides Leagues with active owners who appreciate pre-season player evaluations and invest considerably time into creating their cheat sheets Independent Defensive Player (IDP) Scoring System In the years since the PPR scoring system became commonplace, fantasy owners have continued to push the envelope. With the advent Independent Defensive Player leagues, a whole new dimension of scoring and strategy was created as fantasy positions were extended to the defensive side of the ball. IDP isn't a replacement system for standard scoring or PPR leagues, rather it is a scoring system that you would implement along with your current scoring configuration. IDP Position Groupings Nickleback Safety Much like the standard offensive positions, defensive positions accumulate points when they amass positive statistics including sacks, tackles, forced fumbles, and interceptions. Best League Candidates for IDP Scoring IDP is definitely not for every fantasy league because of complex scoring rules and draft preparation.

However, the following types of leagues may benefit from implementing IDP: Leagues which have used various systems in the past and want to add another layer of strategy to their leagues Leagues with expert owners who are willing to invest the time and effort necessary to evaluate defensive talent If the extra work required to manage defensive players would alienate some of your league members, it's probably best to stick to a standard or PPR-based league (or maybe create a new fantasy league strictly for owners interested in IDP). The Right Scoring Systems for your League Standard Scoring, Points Per Reception, and Individual Defensive Player are the three primary scoring systems that form the basis for almost every fantasy football league in existence. When choosing between the three main fantasy football scoring systems, it's important to adopt a system that is supported by and complements your league owners. The newer your owners are to fantasy football, the more likely it is that the Standard Scoring system is right for you. If your league is full of experienced owners who are willing to invest extra time into the league, then PPR or IDP systems may be worth a shot. It also never hurts to experiment.

Molding one of these scoring systems to your league's liking will surely require some tweaking but you can always switch back to a previous scoring system if necessary. Which scoring system do you prefer for your league? How Fantasy Football Game Play Is Scored - dummies How Fantasy Football Game Play Is Scored How Fantasy Football Game Play Is Scored How Fantasy Football Game Play Is Scored By Martin Signore To win in fantasy football, your team needs to score more points than any other team in your league. A fantasy team scores points based on each player’s performance and personal stats, in addition to the standard NFL point system for touchdowns, field goals, safeties, and extra points; fantasy scoring is not affected by the NFL teams’ win-loss records. As a result, the stud offensive players who can run, catch, and pass for big yards and not just score are the elite players in the fantasy world. In essence, fantasy rewards a player for playing a good game even if he doesn’t score lots of touchdowns. Scoring touchdowns isn’t easy in the NFL, and just because an offensive player can’t reach the end zone doesn’t mean he’s having a bad game.

Fantasy football also awards points to kickers who kick field goals and extra points and to team defenses that can score fantasy points by not giving up points and creating turnovers, in addition to scoring touchdowns and safeties. Basically, anything from fumble recoveries to receptions to field goal distance can add up for your fantasy team. Every league provider has a default setting for the stats that will convert to fantasy scoring, but any NFL stat can translate into fantasy points — only your league commissioner can make the decision to change any defaults. To know your league’s scoring default, make sure you check out your league’s scoring system when preparing for your season. The scoring rules of your league may affect your draft strategy and will affect the outcome of each game during the season. Fantasy football simulates the real deal by using a performance-based scoring system. A touchdown is worth 6 points for an NFL team and 6 fantasy points for a player on a fantasy team (in most leagues). Fantasy players are also awarded points for yardage gained, such as 1 point for every 10 yards gained rushing or receiving. Bad NFL plays often count as negative fantasy points; sacks can be worth –1 or interceptions worth –2.

In general, every statistic can be used to rate a player’s achievements, good and bad, depending on your fantasy league. Your fantasy team’s final score each week is the sum of all your starting players’ fantasy points. The following table shows an example of fantasy scoring for one week in a league with fractional and negative points. Don’t worry about having to calculate all this each week. Your league provider does the math for you. A Good Week for Your Fantasy Team Position What Is a Safety Call in a Football Game? | eHow What Is a Safety Call in a Football Game? football image by Maria Bell from Fotolia.com In American football, the majority of a team's scoring opportunities occur when its offensive unit is on the field. The offense can score touchdowns and kick field goals to wrack up points. The opponent's defensive unit can also score touchdowns by recovering fumbles or making interceptions and advancing the ball into the end zone. The "safety," however, is distinctive, as it can only be scored by a team when its defensive unit is on the field. How a Safety is Scored The safety usually occurs when the offensive unit is backed up less than 5 yards from its own end zone.

As noted by NFL.com, the National Football League's official website, a safety is called when the defensive unit tackles an offensive player who is in possession of the ball behind his own goal line. Points Scored for a Safety The team is awarded 2 points when a safety is called. This often makes for odd scoring scoring, as final football scores are usually combinations of 7 (for a touchdown and an extra point) and 3 (for a field goal). Circumstances that May Result in a Safety Call In most cases, a safety is called when defensive players tackle the ball carrier before he can advance the ball out of the end zone. A quarterback being sacked behind the goal line also results in a safety. A safety is called if the offensive unit fumbles the ball in its own end zone and recovers it but cannot advance it or if the fumbled ball rolls out of bounds from any point behind the goal line. Deliberately Taking a Safety There are circumstances when an offensive team will choose to deliberately take a safety. If a fumble occurs in the end zone, and offensive player may deliberately knock the ball out of bounds and take the safety to prevent a defensive player from recovering it and scoring a touchdown.

Kicking Off After a Safety The safety is different from other football scores when it comes to putting the ball back in play. When a team scores a touchdown or a field goal, it kicks the ball off to its opponent. In the event of a safety, the team that scores the points gets to receive the kick. According to Time Magazine, the kicking team can put the ball in play with a punt, place kick or drop kick. Rules - Standard Scoring System Rules - Standard Scoring System comment In a standard league, the eight players on a team's active roster earn points based on the statistics they generate in actual NFL games. These fantasy points are added together for a weekly team score. Statistics from bench players do NOT earn fantasy points. The winner of an fantasy football game is the team with more points earned for the week (two weeks for playoff games). In the event that both you and your opponent accumulate the same number of points, a tie will be awarded. No playoff game can end in a tie (see the Playoffs page for more information).

Offense: Quarterbacks (QB), Running Backs (RB), Wide Receivers (WR), Tight Ends (TE) 6 pts per rushing or receiving TD 6 pts for player returning kick/punt for TD 6 pts for player returning or recovering a fumble for TD 4 pts per passing TD 2 pts per rushing or receiving 2 pt conversion (note: teams do not receive points for yardage gained during the conversion) 2 pts per passing 2 pt conversion 1 pt per 10 yards rushing or receiving 1 pt per 25 yards passing Bonus Points 2 pts per rushing or receiving TD of 40 yards or more 2 pts per passing TD of 40 yards or more (note: the player must score a touchdown to score the points) Penalty Points -2 pts per intercepted pass -2 pts per fumble lost Kickers (K) 5 pts per 50+ yard FG made 4 pts per 40-49 yard FG made 3 pts per FG made, 39 yards or less 2 pts per rushing, passing, or receiving 2 pt conversion 1 pt per Extra Point made Penalty Points -2 pts per missed FG (0-39 yds

) -1 pt per missed FG (40-49 yds) (note: a missed FG includes any attempt that is blocked, deflected, etc.) Defensive/Special Teams (D) 3 pts per defensive or special teams TD 2 pts per interception 2 pts per fumble recovery (Note: includes a fumble by the opposing team out of the end zone) 2 pts per blocked punt, PAT, or FG (Note: a deflected kick of any kind does not receive points) 2 pts per safety

Question: How many points are awarded for a safety in a football game?
Answer: 2